AS GOOD AS OVER

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1926, Page 9

AS GOOD AS OVER

MINERS’ LEADERS MEET MEN ADVISED TO ACCEPT OWNERS NON-COMMITTAL THE OUTLOOK HOPEFUL By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Nov. 13. It can be said with more or less certainly that the greatest of all strikes, which has paralysed Britain for more than six months, is drawing to a close. 'Following upon a dramatic conference, lasting far into the night, from which the leaders left, tired and worn out, the situation has completely changed. There were many adjournments throughout the night, at which the Government hurriedly conversed with the owners’ chairman and the vice-chairman in another room. The Labour representatives were in the closest touch with the miners. The declared odds in favour of a settlement increased from 10 to one on Thursday to 100 to one to-day. In the meantime 320,000 miners are back at work at the pits, which is onethird of the total. The average weekly increase for the month has been 25,000. The cost to the country is colossal. The loss on coal exports alone since the stoppage has been £25,000,000, and on last year’s trade it is £40,000,000. The outdoor relief in the areas directly affected has increased £233,000 weekly, totalling £5,800,000. Only five steel furnaces are in blast, compared with 147 before the strike. There are various estimates of the loss on general trade. These figures are astounding, rivalling the daily expenditure during the war time. The cost of household coal has more than doubled, and hundreds of thousands of homes are without fires. It is impossible to exaggerate the sufferings of the miners’ families. It has often been said that the miners have been the victims of a slogan, but against this Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in a speech at Glasgow to-night, said: “When we see 'that the owners are not prepared to sit at a table and discuss terms with their employees, all we can say is that it is a very badly managed industry. Such a spirit of antagonism is as unnecessary as it is suicidal.” With the changed situation there are distinct signs of a trade boom. Industries up and down the country are waiting to carry out orders, the shipyards have received orders for 14 vessels, involving millions, while to-day cabled advice was received from Buenos Ayres that a British tender had been accepted for a complete system of underground tube railways, worth millions. ATTITUDE OF THE MINERS. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS LIKELY. London, Nov. 12. The miners’ executive conferred with the Minister of Mines and reported the result tjj the miners’ conference, which at the evening had not reached a decision and adjourned till Saturday morning, as the delegates required further enlightenment. The principal bone of contention is the powers to be conferred on the independent chairmen of districts. Members of the conference are apparently objecting to anything savouring of compulsory arbitration. High hopes are centred in the executive’s meetings with the Government to-night. It is known there were considerable differences of opinion among the executive regarding the acceptance of the terms, the result of which was that no recommendation was made to the delegate conference. Mr. Cook, in a long and passionate speech, vigorously attacked the terms. Received Nov. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 13. The miners’ delegates early this afternoon discussed the Government's terms by districts. There were sharp differences of opinion. Some districts wished to continue the fight, while others favoured acceptance because nothing better was obtainable. When the full conference resumed. South Wales and Yorkshire headed the fighting section. A vote was first taken whether the conference would recommend the districts to accept the terras. This was carried by 432,000 to 352,000. The conference then voted whether the decision should be left to the districts or to the miners individually. The proposal for an individual ballot was defeated by 427,000 to 357,000. The results of the voting in the districts are to be returned by November 18. Considerable correspondence has been published regarding the negotiations. A letter from the Department of Mines shows that Mr. Baldwin agreed to the deletion of the clause relating to victimisation. Mr. A. J. Cook explains that the miners’ executive thought this was inadequate. Other letters relate to Mr. Evan Williams’ disclaimer and the Government’s reply. The general expectation in Government circles is that the miners will accept the terms in view of the recommendation of their conference. The strike is therefore regarded as being as gocxl as over. OWNERS OBJECT TO TERMS. DISTRICTS TO DECIDE. London, Nov. 12. The coal owners have issued a statement that the Government’s proposed terms for settlement as outlined to the miners were not theirs. The Government later made a statement explaining that the terras were not based on an agreement between the Government and the owners, but if the miners accept them, the Government will proceed independently with the necessary legislation. The Government has issued a further statement that Mr. Evan Williams, the owners’ president, had assured the Government that, the owners’ district associations would not object to the majority of the Government’s terms. The statement added that the terms necessarily could not be agreed with by the owners, because the owners refused to negotiate as a national association. The mineowners’ statement, amounting virtually to a repudiation of the terms, came as a complete surprise. The Government’s immediate reply, promising legislation in the event of the miners’ acceptance of the terms,

removed the possibility of another collapse. Mr. Evan Williams stated to-night that he only communicated to the Government the information which he received from the districts. He is further communicating with the Government with a view to clearing up the misunderstandings.

Mr. Williams said he made it perfectly clear that he aud the other owners were appearing purely in a personal capacity and in order to give the required information. He opposed the terms because they were impossible for certain districts. Mr. Williams also gives a direct denial of statements attributed to him in the Government communique.

The Mines Department’s reply to Mr. Williams states that the Government found consultation with the owners’ district associations was impracticable and it was compelled to consult individual owners fully. They appreciate the owners’ declared objections, but the Government accepts full responsibility. The letter adds that it has been made perfectly clear to the Ministry that the Government’s terms are based on increased hours, and that the Government is unable to givo a guarantee regarding working conditions. The owners refuse to prophesy wliat the district owners’ associations will do in the event of the miners accepting the Government terms., and confine themselves to saying that it will be a matter for each district to decide whether the terras are economically practicable. DISMAY IN RUSSIA. MINERS URGED TO FIGHT ON. London, Nov. 12. The Riga correspondent of The Times says: “Dismayed at the probability of the settlement of the British coal strike, Lozovsky, in an article in the Moscow papers, urges the miners not to allow the Trades Union Council to interfere. He declares that the position is not so desperate as to warrant suicidal steps. Britain’s economic structure is shaken to the foundations by the loss of the I foreign coal markets. It is madness to alien’ Pugh. Thomas and Co. to ruin the situation while there is still a winning chance.